Improvement in trusses for ships  yards



p Pa'ten`ted Sept. 23,1875.`

N-PFERS. PHOT-LITNOGRFHER. WASHINGTON. D. C.

Truss for yShipsv Yards.

ASJ-Jardarz a3@ Jah; flrens.

5S. .|0RDANU&,1*. STEVENS.

wlTNElsgsEs UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL S. JORDAN AND JOHN C. STEVENS, OF BATH, MAINE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,159, dated September 28, 1875; application led August 24, 1875.

Tofcll whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,'SAMUEL S. JORDAN and JOHN `O.Y-STEAVENS, of Bath, Sagadahoc county, Maine, have invented an Improvement in Ships (aps, of which the following is a description:

This invention has reference to the construction of caps, so called, of navigable vessels, or the device whichnconstitutes a support to the yards, and a clasp to conne the ,ends of the upper and lower masts.

The method heretofore generally adopted has been to weld a 'stout boss or stud centrally to the face of the ring which clasps andv traverses the mast, the truss which supports the yard being pivoted directly to thisstud.

The drawing accompanying this specificad tion represents, in Figure 1, a plan, and in Fig.

2 a vertical section, of our invention, while Fig. 3 isa horizontal section cfa portion thereof.-

In carrying our improvement into practice we proceed as follows: A in the said drawing represents the upper end of the lower mast, and B the lower end of the upper' mast, of a navigable vessel, while C represents a metal lic clasp or frame, which contines the said ends of the masts together. The portion of the clasp C which embraces 'the upper mast is a metallic tube, D, which is secured to the said clasp or formed upon it. E represents the traveler-ring, composed of a strap passed about the circumference of the tubular guide or supportD, and vhaving its ends confined together by a bolt, F, and clasping between them one end of a swivel-link, G, whose opposite end is pivoted within an arched brace or truss, H, the extremeoppositc ends of such truss being, in turn, confined between the ends of bands or straps I I, which inclose the yard J. The tube D, ring E, and truss H serve to retain the yard in its proper place with respect to the mast, and permit the yard to play freely in a horizontal direction about the mast,

and to be susceptible of such slight vertical Y play as may be requisite, the two joints a and link G effecting this result.

To suspend the yard from the mast it has been customary heretofore to employ a chain connected from above to the center of the yard. We discard this plan and support the yard from below by employing a brace or rod, K, the lower end of which is swiveled or pivoted to the mast below the yard, and the upper end swiveled to the center of the yard.

This means of supporting the yard possesses` a marked advantage, as itpresents no obstacle to the furling of the sail, While the slingchain heretofore in use presents a great obstruction. y

Our invention, though susceptible of universal application, is more especially intended.

for the lower yards. Among the advantages it possesses is the fact that we are enabled to sail closer to the wind with square-rigged Vessels than has heretofore been possible, for the reason that we can brace the yards round much sharper-' that is, fore and aft the vesselas the mast does not obstruct such yard, as has heretofore been the case.

We claim- A Y The combination of the clasp Gand its cylindrical bearing-tube D with the shaft E, arranged to rotate on said tube, the swivel G, truss H, brace K, and yard J, for joint operation, as shown and set forth. v

F. CURTISS 

